Mark Lamb wins Republican nomination for Arizona’s Congressional District 5

By Tom Blodgett
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Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb has won the Republican nomination for Arizona’s Congressional District 5, defeating Daniel Keenan in final unofficial results that now await the official canvass.

Lamb finished with 52,084 votes, or 58.6%, to Keenan’s 36,723 votes, or 41.4%.

The results remain unofficial until they are formally canvassed.

Lamb, who had faced negative media accounts about his personal life during the campaign, thanked voters in a social media post after his victory. He also thanked President Donald Trump for his endorsement.

“To the people of Arizona, and especially the voters of Congressional District 5, thank you for placing your trust in me,” Lamb wrote. “I am honored by your support. I will work every day to earn it, and I will not let you down.”

Keenan conceded the race in a social media statement, saying he had called Lamb and left him a voicemail congratulating him on his victory.

“I urge my supporters to support the entire Republican ticket so we can secure a big victory in November,” Keenan wrote.

Keenan also thanked his campaign staff, volunteers and supporters, saying more than 35,000 people had voted for him.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Keenan wrote. “I remain committed to charting the best path forward as I continue the fight to save our country from the radical socialists who seek to destroy our great nation.”

Lamb will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to face the winner of the Democratic primary, where Brian Hualde, Chris James and Elizabeth Lee competed for their party’s nomination.

Congressional District 5 includes Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and Sun Lakes, as well as the southern and eastern portions of Chandler and eastern Mesa in Maricopa and Pinal counties.

The seat is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who is running for governor.

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Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).